Rep. Tlaib Statement on Third Coronavirus Response Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Friday, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-13) released the following statement following the passage of the third coronavirus response bill, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act:

“As individuals, families, and communities across this country and the world deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, I know residents in the 13th Congressional District are looking for immediate, lasting relief. I know that our medical workers and first responders are looking for resources and enough personal protection equipment to be able to do their jobs caring for the sick. Our hospitals are overloaded and need immediate support to provide enough beds and facilities to care for our communities. It’s for our residents, frontline medical workers, and hospitals who desperately need help today that I support the passage of the CARES Act – but this is only the beginning of our fight for relief that goes to the people first.

“This bill does not go far enough. However, residents are in dire need of direct payments to help replace the loss of income they’ve experienced. We know residents who are now unemployed can’t wait for an increase in unemployment insurance amounts. Small businesses and non-profits will now have access to loans that may be forgiven. Hospitals, health care facilities, and medical providers will receive $100 billion dollars to protect communities across the country. And the state of Michigan will receive nearly $3.9 billion in funding to help stop this pandemic, including $351 million for public transit systems and nearly $74 million for housing (HUD) emergency solution grants.

“We have already begun the work of pushing for a fourth COVID-19 response package that includes critical provisions I’ve been fighting for in Washington.

“Our local governments, municipalities, and states have been at the forefront of responding to this crisis. They have sprung into action and must have the resources they need to save lives, and are now being forced to go without crucial revenues and divert funds to COVID-19 relief. I have continuously advocated that we to do more to prevent the financial collapse of state and local governments through the Federal Reserve’s toolbox. This bill provides some mechanisms for the Fed to provide financial relief to our cities and states, but we need stronger requirements for the Fed to purchase debt and support our local governments

“A one-time payment is not enough to provide relief to the thousands of our residents who have been laid off or will lose income for the foreseeable future. Our residents need monthly payments, like I have proposed, to continue until after the economic shocks caused by this pandemic end.

“We need to immediately implement a water shutoff prohibition, which 80 members of the House supported in a letter I led with Reps. Dingell and Kildee to House leadership. It is imperative that we ensure households have clean, safe water running from the faucets, especially during a time where hand washing is essential in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

“These critical provisions should have been prioritized over giving corporations a half-trillion-dollar handout, which I am concerned that the CARES Act does. Congress must begin working immediately to develop and pass a fourth stimulus bill, one that delivers on these provisions and more for the people who will suffer most during this crisis.”

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